Parents and kids

PARENTS were forced to flee with their children when a Santa’s grotto burst into flames at a garden centre.Families had been lining up to meet Father Christmas and his elves when the blaze broke out in Suffolk yesterday.No one was hurt but the grotto was reduced to ashes at Notcutts garden centre in Woodbridge.Crews from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service rushed to the scene at around 3.30pm yesterday afternoon.A spokesman for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said: “Two appliances attended a report of a fire at a garden centre.“Crews found a marquee used as Santa’s grotto to be well alight and they used two hose reel jets to extinguish.”The garden centre tweeted last night: “Today there was a fire in the grotto at the Woodbridge centre. No one was injured.“We will reopen as usual tomorrow however the grotto will remain closed.“Anyone with grotto tickets should contact us for more details.“Our thanks to the emergency services for their … [Read more...] about Santa’s grotto bursts into flames forcing parents and kids to flee garden centre

PETA, who is married to Olympic cyclist Mark Cavendish, talks of the traditional nativity play and the politics behind the cast and the seats.She says: "I love Christmas, and the build-up in particular."The carols, the hyped-up kids and the nativity plays."Although the nativities are a far cry from when I was a child. Now, they resemble a West End show with fierce competition for the more coveted roles."Those memories of wearing a tea towel on the head and imagining you had a hump if you were a camel are long gone."This year my daughter is a shepherd, but she is not a happy one. She came home sobbing that she 'didn’t even really like sheep and definitely didn’t want to look after them forever'."While I try to jazz up the prospect of being a shepherd to a disillusioned 'wannabe angel', I encounter a few hiccups."Mainly there are no cool shepherd pictures on Google (or female ones, for that matter). So, we have said she is a trailblazer for female shepherds … [Read more...] about Peta Todd says children’s nativities are not what they used to be — it’s now fierce competition among the parents and kids

A FAMILY trip to Legoland can be a pricey day out.Fortunately, parents looking for an activity with their kids just in time for half-term break, might be in luck.To celebrate the launch of its new Lego Ninjago movie, Legoland Windsor is currently offering tickets to adults and kids with a catch.From 13 October to 30 October, the resorts, will be giving out free entries to all guests who have the same name as one of the main characters from the new movie.The bad news is that some of those main characters have pretty uncommon names.Guests with the first name Lloyd, Kai, Jay, Nya, Zane or Cole will be able to benefit from the offer.First names must also match the exact spelling of the ninjago characters.To claim the free tickets, they'll need to show their ID at a ticket office or a ticket booth, located at the main entrance of the resort.If the lucky kid with the matching name is under the age of 14, an adult aged 18 years or over must accompany him.The adult will require to hold a valid … [Read more...] about Legoland Windsor is letting parents and kids in for free in October – but only if you have one of these names

A DAD watched the moment his partner was killed alongside their children in a horror crash - as he drove behind them on their way back from a camping holiday.Tracy Houghton, 45, died with her two sons Josh and Ethan, aged 11 and 13, and her partner Mark Goldsmith's 11-year-old daughter Amy in an eight-vehicle pile-up on the A34 in Berkshire during rush-hour last night.Tracy Houghton was killed alongside her two young boys and her partner's daughter in the A34 crashThey were travelling back from a camping trip in the South West to their hometown of Dunstable, Bedfordshire, when their two-car convoy when one car was crushed in between two lorries.Tracy's partner Mark Goldsmith witnessed the horrific crash and suffered whiplash and a broken rib as he drove his own Vauxhall car with his 13-year-old son Jake as a passenger.His partner's mother Jo Smith told today how their family were devastated by the crash.She said: "Tracy's partner Mark and his son Jake were in a different … [Read more...] about Mum and kids who died in horror pile-up on their way home from camping holiday

ERIC and Corey House share a bond like no other parent and their child: they’re both transgender.Corey, 14, was born a boy but four years ago she told her mother she was transgender.Then last year Corey’s mother, Erica, revealed she was also transgender and now goes by the name Eric.They are believed to be the world’s first parent and child to publicly come out as transgender and transitioning.Speaking on This Morning today, Corey said she realised there had been a gender mix-up when she was seven or eight.She spoke of how lucky she was to have been encouraged along her journey by her family.She said: "It was amazing because a lot of kids don't have support from their parents."Before Corey could start physically transitioning, she underwent a three-year process with therapists who helped her with the social aspects."It was very long," she commented. "They did counselling and a lot of things to make sure I was ready for the transition to actually start."Eric, … [Read more...] about ‘World’s first transgender parent and child’ go from mum and son to dad and daughter

THE brother of Meghan Markle has spoken for the first time about his gun arrest and begged: “Please still let me come to the royal wedding.”Tom Markle Jr, 50, admitted drunkenly rowing with lover Darlene Blount, 36, but says he wants to learn from his boozy mistakes — just like Meghan’s boyfriend Prince Harry.The window fitter, who has the same dad — Tom Sr — as actress Meghan, issued an apology to his half-sister.“If I may say so, Prince Harry has made a few in his time and learnt from them. I just need the same chance.“Marriage and kids is on the cards for Meghan and Harry and I still want to go to the wedding if they’ll let me.“Of course I want to go to London and Buckingham Palace.“Their relationship has been going from strength to strength and this drama is the last thing I wanted to happen.“I want to tell Meghan I am truly sorry from the bottom of my heart.“The last thing I would ever want to do is put … [Read more...] about Meghan Markle’s brother Tom begs for a second chance after gun arrest and wants an invite to the royal wedding… as he says ‘marriage and kids are on the cards’

PRINCE William, Kate and their children will be spending Christmas with her ­parents and not the Queen.It is their first Christmas away from ­Sandringham since Prince George, three, and Princess Charlotte, 19 months, were born.The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will join ­Carole and Mike Middleton at their £5million mansion in Bucklebury, Berks, for the second time since they got married in 2011.Kate’s sister Pippa, 33, and brother James, 29 will also be there.A family friend said: “Christmas at the Middletons is always a riotous affair.It’s very informal — Michael puts on fancy dress and everyone has to wear Christmas jumpers.“They buy silly presents and it’s a lot of fun with great food and games.”William has always said he wants to spend time with both families over Christmas.But the last time they spent it in Bucklebury, Kate was pregnant with George and suffered acute morning sickness.Brother Harry will be in … [Read more...] about Prince William, Kate Middleton and kids will spend Christmas with the Middletons and NOT the Queen

A TEENAGE boy is in a serious condition after he was stabbed at a south London funfair yesterday evening.The 15-year-old was rushed to hospital with wounds to his stomach and back at about 6pm on Sunday.A crowd gathers after parents and children saw a 15-year-old boy stabbed 'in front of them' at a south London funfairSamantha Jury-Dada, Labour councillor for Southwark Council tweeted: "Saw families enjoying the last day of the funfair at Burgess Park and then someone just got stabbed in front of us all. This has to stop."Seeing young boys ruining their lives and trying to take others is heart-breaking."The boy is a serious but stable condition and his family has been told.Witnesses said families with young children saw the attack and saw police and an air ambulance arrive at the fair in Burgess Park.The Evening Standard reported Josh C Philly posted on Facebook: "Burgess Park funfair was really good today, but such a disappointment a boy got stabbed in front of many parents and kids, … [Read more...] about Boy, 15, ‘fighting for his life after being stabbed in front of parents and kids at London fair’

NEARLY two thirds of parents think kids should be taught about mental health at school - but one in four incorrectly believe it is already a compulsory subject.A study by The Mental Health Foundation found millions of mums and dads are so busy with looking after their families day-to-day they haven't thought about asking their kids how they are.Just ten per cent of parents think getting mental health support for their child, should they need it, would be a straightforward process - and almost half the nation's parents have never considered asking their children about their mental health.The stat is even more remarkable when you consider the fact many parents believe their youngsters are suffering from stress caused by school issues.Two thirds said they believed their kids 'have it tough', with more academic pressure placed upon them than their own generation when they were growing up.It also emerged two in five think schools put pupil’s well-being at risk by focusing too much on … [Read more...] about Two thirds of parents believe kids should be taught about mental health at school

EVERY parent wants to give their child the best possible start in life but with so much conflicting advice from in-laws, medical professionals and the internet - it can be hard to know where to start.Some parents recommend attachment parenting as the best way to nurture young ones, but what's it all about? We've got the lowdown...Attachment parenting is a philosophy that encourages mothers to build a strong connection with their children through close physical contact and with responsiveness and maternal empathy.Some believe that it is the ideal way to raise secure and independent children.It is thought that a strong and trusting attachment to parents forms a solid foundation for good relationships in later life.The term "attachment parenting" was initially suggested by Amercian pediatrician William Sears.The practise can be achieved in a number of different ways including co-sleeping, breastfeeding and baby-wearing.It’s estimated that half of all … [Read more...] about What is attachment parenting and what is the theory behind co-sleeping, breastfeeding and baby-wearing?